H&B launches quest for festive best

Holland & Barrett and Julian Graves are launching a nationwide search for new and innovative products for Christmas 2010.  Both retailers are calling on natural health and speciality food suppliers to step forward to present their best festive lines at ‘Christmas Spectacular’ at the Ricoh Arena on 13th May.

The retailers say they are aiming to make their food offering this Christmas the biggest yet, jointly planning to list at least 500 new lines for Christmas 2010.

Phil Geary, group director of Marketing commented, “No supplier is too big or small, we have over 800 Holland & Barrett and Julian Graves stores in the UK and Ireland and there is potential for all types of product. The team is tasked to list as many new products as possible over the coming months and we pledge full in-store marketing support to enhance success.”

The retailers want to capitalise on growing interest in natural health and speciality foods by expanding their offer of quality gift lines — with the proviso that they fit with the chains’ respective positioning.

Geary continues, “We also pack our own lines of fruits, nuts, seeds and snacks and would like to encourage bulk suppliers of these goods, without a finished product, to come along and talk to us about what produce they have to offer for the Christmas season.”

Suppliers interested in taking part in the Holland & Barrett ‘Christmas Spectacular’ can make an appointment  appointment by emailing to  [email protected] or calling Melanie Smith on 02476 244532 for further information.